Winter TV Roundup, Week 11

March and April are unique times in the TV Landscape. While the streaming content providers continue to hum, or even ramp up, you also get a fresh set of network shows. Often these are ones that won't have a long shelf life, but they are there none the less. And, as always, there is a torrent of original content on the airwaves, so much so that it can be hard to keep it all straight. Let these weekly posts be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted fare this Winter. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Mondays:
Breeders, Mondays at 10 p.m. on FX (Premiered March 2)
About: The first two episodes really aired in a block on March 2 with the third airing last night. While I only got to one for last week's post, I've now seen all three. And I have to say, last week was quite a week for FX, which debuted three original series across three channels and platforms. "Breeders" isn't the best of them (that will come later), but it's a pretty fun and satisfying watch. I enjoyed the pilot quite a bit, and then I thought the second episode was solid. Last night's third episode might have been the best of the three for me. There are plenty of chuckles and some strong ideas in this comedy about the pitfalls of parenthood and life at a certain age. Martin Freeman stars and came up with the concept, and it really works for him. Daisy Haggard plays his wife, and she's equally strong. In fact, one of the things that works best is the way they play off each other. There were plenty of storylines that could be conceived as cliches but the spin here, and the way this comes together, works. It's funny and endearing, and one of the better recent comedy offerings from FX to me.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Wednesdays:
Dave, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FXX (Premiered March 4)
About: We'll file this one under they can't all be winners, right? This was one of the flood of FX original series, this one on FXX, and it also aired two episodes in a block to premier. It stars Lil Dicky, and is based on his life as he's seemingly roughly playing himself. There was nothing I enjoyed about this series, which was one of the most painful and dull shows I've seen this winter. I am sure there's some kind of audience for this, but it isn't me. In a big week for the network, this was the lowlight.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: D-

Thursdays:
Devs, Thursdays as part of FX on Hulu (Premiered March 5)
About; and the final FX premier of the week, the spotlight of the FX on Hulu merger as it's an FX series that will stream exclusively on Hulu. The first two episodes dropped on Thursday and then new episodes will drop each week following. This one comes from creator Alex Garland, a filmmaker with an incredible visual aesthetic. And he brings that to this series with a flourish. We've seen discussions in the past about the nature of television, whether it should be about story, style or a combination of both. And we've seen series that lean heavily one way or the other. "Devs" seems to be one leaning heavily on style, and that style is breathtaking. However, I think there is enough story, at least so far, that this could end up being a beautiful blend of both. The cast is led by Sonoya Mizuno, Alison Pill and Nick Offerman, who was superb in the two episodes that dropped last week. This is a tough show to describe in terms of plot, so I won't really try. I'll just say I was taken with the pilot (and do yourself a favor and watch it on a decent size screen), and thought this was the best new show I've seen this winter so far. It may well end up being one of the best shows of the year.
Pilot Grade: A-
Second Episode: B+

Streaming Series:
Amazing Stories, Now Streaming on Apple TV+ (Premiered March 6)
About: Back in the 1980s, Steven Spielberg offered "Amazing Stories" as a series. The half-hour format allowed for some interesting stories and a memorable experience. When Apple TV+ announced the launch, a re-birth of concept, this time in a one-hour format. The team that helped bring "Once Upon A Time" to ABC is part of the creative team, and the first episode dropped on Friday. New episodes will drop on subsequent Fridays. The initial offering is a story of time travel and love called "The Cellar," and I thought it was an interesting choice. It was engaging, and the performances from stars Dylan O'Brien and Victoria Pedretti were solid. But for a highly anticipated show dropping in a crowded landscape and offering only a single choice, this didn't feel like a home run. I'm curious to see where they go with the second episode, but it feels like the series, so far, is relying quite a bit on name brand recognition to build its audience. That may or may not work.
Pilot Grade: B

ZeroZeroZero, Now Streaming on Amazon Prime (Premiered March 6)
About: This new limited series is based on the novel of the same name from Robert Saviano, and follows the drug trade from Italy to Mexico to the United States. It follows the key players in each of those areas, including a family in the United States who use their shipping company to funnel the drugs into the United States. Gabriel Byrne has a limited series role, while much of the heavy lifting is done by Andrea Riseborough and Dane DeHaan. I watched the first two, and while they were well crafted, I wasn't taken with the story. This is just an eight-episode investment, but it will depend on how you feel about these characters and the slow burn of this story. In a crowded marketplace, there wasn't enough here for me to commit.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-